A fire broke out earlier today at the Imam Reza shrine complex in Mashhad, Iran, according to reports. The shrine is the burial site of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was interred there about a week and a half ago. Iranian authorities said the fire started in an asphalt workshop; no casualties have been reported and the cause remains under investigation.
The fire at the Imam Reza shrine complex, one of Shia Islam's holiest sites, comes amid a series of fires at Iranian facilities in recent weeks. The Zioneer has reported on blazes at an oil refinery in Pol-e Dokhtar, the 'Eksin' complex, an IRGC base, and a petrochemical plant, among others. The shrine is the final resting place of Ali Khamenei, who was buried there on July 9 following a week-long funeral process that saw millions of mourners in Tehran and Mashhad. The cause of today's fire is not yet known; Iranian authorities have downplayed it as a workshop fire, but the location's sensitivity—the heart of the shrine complex containing Khamenei's tomb—makes it a significant security incident. No group has claimed responsibility, and there is no immediate confirmation of foul play.
3 developments
- DevelopingUpdate: No damage to Imam Reza shrine after fire, Iranian media say
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: Plaza of Khamenei's tomb stands at Mashhad shrine
- StrongIran denies rumors Khamenei's body was temporarily buried in Qom
- DevelopingTelegram post publishes exact location of Khamenei's grave, addresses IAF pilots
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